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JNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



BULLETIN No. 919 



Contribution from the Bureau of Animal Industry 
JOHN R. MOHLER, Chief 








Washington, D. C. 



December 10, 1920 



UNIT REQUIREMENTS FOR PRODUCING 
IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 



MILK 



By J. B. Bain, Dairy Husbandman, and G. E. Braun, Market Milk Specialist, 

Dairy Diinsion. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Character and scope of the work 1 

Methods used in obtaining the 

data 2 

Compaiison of winter and 

summer results 3 

Description of herds 3 

Requirements for producing 100 

pounds of milk 4 

Requirements for keeping a cow 

one year 6 

Credit for manure 7 

Credits for calves 9 

Requirements for keeping a bull 9 



Page. 
Factors involved in production of 

milk 10 

Feed 10 

Pasture - 11 

Labor 12 

Other costs 13 

Per cent comparison of factors in- 
volved in milk production 15 

Average compared with " bulk-line " 

costs 16 

Monthly distribution of factors in 

milk production 17 

Summary 19 



CHARACTER AND SCOPE OF THE WORK. 

What does it cost to produce milk? This is a question which has 
brought increasing concern to each dairjnnan as the cost of feed has 
increased and hired men are being attracted to other industries pay- 
ing higher wages. The United States Department of Agriculture, 
through the Dairy Division of the Bureau of Animal Industry, began 
a series of studies in 1915 intended to give the dairymen of the United 
States information on the cost of producing milk. These studies 
were made in different sections of the United States. The project 
with which this bulletin deals was organized in August, 1917, in 
Skagit County, Wash., about TO miles north of Seattle. 

Other objects of these studies were to separate and analyze various 
factors to obtain data which would aid in improving general milk- 
production methods. 

The climate and fertility of the soil in this section produce excep- 
tionally good pasturage throughout the larger part of the year. 
The many herds of black and white cattle grazing over the large ex- 

12649°— 20 1 



Ci^ 



6 



2 BULLETIN 919, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

panse of low-lying meadows, together with the numerous windmills 
dotting the landsca^De, remind an observer of the description of the 
Holstein breed in its native country. 

At the end of the first year the work was discontinued until Janu- 
ary, 1919, because of the war. The value of this work to the dairymen 
cooperating the first year is reflected in the fact that 15 out of the 
17 continued the work for the second year. Two dairymen sold out, 
and their places were taken by neighboring dairymen during the 
second year. The data obtained in this study are actual records of 
facts obtained by regular monthly full-day visits to 15 farms for two 
years and four other farms for one year. 

Most of the milk in this section is sold for condensing purposes 
and is delivered by motor truck to large milk condenseries. None 
of the dairies selected were conducted as hobbies or as breeding estab- 
lishments, but were representative of average dairy conditions found 
in this section. It is the custom to hire milkers, who milk and take 
care of 25 or 30 cows per man and give their entire time to the herd. 
The figures reported show the amounts expended in producing milk 
under the system of dairy management found. 

The dairies were inspected by representatives from the condenseries, 
and the sanitary conditions were subject to such supervision. The 
cost of production would have been somewhat different if either 
higher or lower grades of milk had been produced. 

METHODS USED IN OBTAINING THE DATA. 

The field agent recorded in detail all available information ^ rela- 
tive to the dairy business, including the amounts and classes of 
labor, feeds and bedding used, pasture cost, amount of milk sold and 
used on the farm, and the current expenses for the month. The data 
on calves and handling of manure were systematically collected. 

By obtaining records on every dairy regularly each month the 
influence of unusual circumstances at the time of any particular visit 
was lessened, and by using the records of all the herds for each 
month average figures could be compiled for each or all of the dairies 
and representative data for each month, season, and year were thus 
obtained. Records were obtained the second year as a check on the 
first year's work and to increase the amount of data available for 
study. 

At the beginning and end of each year an inventory was taken 
of the dairy buildings, livestock, and equipment used in the care of 
the herd and its products. On his regular monthly inspection tour 
the field agent arrived at the first farm of a group in time to observe 
the first labor operations connected with the evening chores. With 

1 Copies of the blanks used can be obtained upon request from the Bureau of Animal 
Industry, Dairy Division, Washington, D. G. 

Hg'' •*: Jlraf 

DEC 15 1929, 



^J^.,^rJ3 PKODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 3 

' watch in hand he noted and recorded the exact minute each labor 
oj)eration connected with the dairy was begun and ended. The labor 
operations during the next morning were recorded in the same man- 
ner, to complete the 24-hour period. 

The field agent also noted the feeds that were being fed on the day 
of his visit, recording the kind, quantity, cost, and description of 
each and comparing them with the quantity recorded by the cow 
tester in the cow-testing-association books. 

The quantity of milk sold and receipts each month were obtained. 
In addition the whole milk used by the proprietor and his help or 
fed to calves was measured or weighed and used as a basis for deter- 
mining the quantity kept on the farm during the month. 

Each dairyman kept an itemized account of expenses that were 
incurred between the monthly visits, and these items were recorded 
by the field agent. A monthly record was also kept of the purchase 
or sale of cows, calves, hides, outside bull service, and other miscel- 
laneous information relating to the herd. The condition and method 
of handling the manure were noted and reported each month. 

When all the labor operations about the dairy had been completed 
for the day at the first farm, the field agent drove to the second farm 
in time to observe the labor operations connected with the evening 
chores. This program was followed until Saturday afternoon, when 
he returned to his headquarters and finished his reports for the week's 
work. The same program was followed each week in the month, and 
each farm was visited for a full day every 30 days throughout the 
two years. 

COMPARISON OF WINTER AND SUMMER RESULTS. 

Since the winter and summer seasons have a marked influence on 
the principal factors entering into the cost of producing milk, the 
results have been computed separately for those periods. The months 
from November to April, inclusive, represent the winter season and 
from May to October the summer season. This division of time was 
based directly on the change in methods of herd management made 
in November and May. 

The various tables found in this bulletin are based upon figures ob- 
tained during two years of study, and the weighted average of the 
two-year records was used whenever it would more accurately express 
the result. The weighted average was obtained by giving each item 
a weight in the average according to its relative importance. 

DESCRIPTION OF HERDS. 

During the first year records were obtained on 17 herds, having an 
average size of 31.3 cows, with an average annual production of 7,369 
pounds of 3.74 per cent milk per cow. During the second year, 18 
herds, 15 of which had been in the first year's work, had an avetage 



4 BULLETIN 919, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGBICULTUEE. 

size of 28.6 cows, and j)roduced an average of 8,323 pounds of 3.59 
per cent milk per cow. The cows were mostly Holsteins, and the 
average annual production for both years was 7,833 pounds of 3.66 
per cent milk. During the first year the pastures were poorer than 
they had been for years, whereas during the second year they were 
exceptionally good until the last month, when the herds were pastured 
on the second-growth meadows. As a matter of record, many herds 
grazed on pastures in which the clover stood a foot high — high 
enough to be cut for hay. The extreme variation in the condition of 
the pastures during the two seasons largely accounts for the increase 
of 954 pounds of milk per cow during the second year. 

For each 100 cows in the herds during the two years, 55 freshened 
during the winter six-months period and 42 during the summer 
season, while 3 cows did not calve during the year. During the first 
year the cows dropping calves in winter were dry 1.9 months, while 
those cows dropping calves in summer were dry 1.4 months. The 
corresponding figures for the second year were 2.2 months in winter 
and 1.5 months in summer. Nearly one-half of the cows freshening 
dropped their calves during the months from February to May, 
inclusive. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR PRODUCING 100 POUNDS OF MILK. 

The unit requirements for producing 100 pounds of milk during 
this investigation are shown in Table 1. In order to secure more 
uniform results and to overcome the eflFect of fluctuating prices, money 
values have been eliminated as much as possible. By showing the 
feeds in terms of pounds and the labor in terms of hours it will be 
possible to use these figures for some time to come. 

Table 1. — Units required, except cost of management, for producing 100 pounds 
of milk in tvinter and in summer. 



Item. 


Winter. 


Two 
winters. 


Summer. 


Two 


1917-18 


1919-20 


1917-181 


1919 


summers. 


Feed: 

Purchased concentrates pounds. . 

Home-grown grains do 


25.8 
1.1 


18. .S 
12.9 


22.1 
7.3 


4.3 


4.9 
1.1 


4.6 
.6 








Total concentrates . 


26.9 
$0,016 


31.7 

$0,028 


2 29.4 
$0,022 


4.3 

$0,002 


6.0 
$0,004 


5.2 2 


Hauling and grinding concentrates 


SO. 003 


Noncommercial roughage pounds. . 


.9 
90.1 
3.1 


10.2 
70.0 
11.7 


5.8 
79.5 
7.6 




.2 

9.0 

.8 


.1 


Commercial carbohydrate hay . .do 

Legume h ay do 


4.4 
.3 


6.8 
.6 


Total dry roughage 


94.1 
156.8 


91.1 
131.1 


92.9 
143.3 


4.7 

42.7 
.027 


10.0 

38.2 
.02 
.2 


7.5 


Silage and other succulent rough- 
age pounds. . 

Pasture acres. . 


40.4 
.025 


Bedding pounds. . 


12.4 


5.9 


9.0 


.1 







1 This season consisted of September, and October, 1917, and May, June, and July, and August, 1918. 

2 The summary of the unit requirements by seasons is printed in bold-faced type for convenience of the 
reader. 



PRODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. • 5 

Table 1. — Units required, except cost of manaucmcnt, for prod/ucing 100 pounds 
of imlk in winter and in summer — Continued. 



Item. 


Winter. 


Two 
Winters. 


Summer. 


Two 


1917-18 


1919-20 


1917-18 


1919 


summers. 


Labor: 

Human hours. . 

Horse do 


2.0 
.01 


1.8 
.01 


1.9 
.01 


1.3 
.01 


1.3 
.02 


1.3 
.015 


Other costs: 

Building charges 


$0,124 
.088 

.043 
.118 

.078 


$0. no 

.088 

.034 
.108 
.074 


$0,127 
.088 

.038 
.113 
.076 


$0,085 
.060 

.029 
.080 
.042 


$0,092 
.062 

.024 
.076 
.042 
.001 
.062 


$0 088 


Equipment charges and dairy supplies 
Herd charges: Taxes, insurance, veteri- 
nary, medicinas, disinfectants, and 
cow-testing associations 


.061 
026 


Interest on cow investment 


.078 


Cost of keening bull 


.042 


Motor-truck charge 




Cash hauline of milk 


.066 


.065 


.062 


.067 


.061 






Total other costs, except deprecia- 
tion on cows 


.517 
.144 


.499 
.007 


.504 
.072 


.363 
.098 


.359 
.005 


356 


Depreciation on cows 


.050 






Total other costs 


$0,661 


$0 506 


$0,576 


$0,461 


$0,364 


$0. 406 







It will be noted in Table 1 that for producing 100 pounds of milk 
in the first winter there were required 26.9 pounds of grain, while 
during the second winter 31.7 pounds were required, an increase of 
4.8 pounds. For dry roughage there is a decrease of 3 pounds, and 
for succulent roughage a decrease of 25.7 pounds per 100 pounds of 
milk. This increase in grain and decrease in dry and succulent 
roughages can be accounted for by the fact that two of the herds that 
were sold out the first year consumed very little grain but a large 
quantity of roughage. 

Since the pastures were of a very excellent quality summer feeding 
of grain was not followed extensively. Some of the best-producing 
herds received no grain throughout the summer, which accounts for 
the low average of 5.2 pounds of grain per 100 pounds of milk during 
the summer seasons. 

While there was a slight advance in prices for both hauling and 
grinding concentrates during the second year, the increase for these 
charges per 100 pounds of milk from 16 cents to 28 cents in the winter 
and from two-tenths of a cent to four-tenths of a cent in the summer 
of the first and second years, respectively, is due primarily to the in- 
crease in the quantity of feeds ground rather than to the advanced 
rate of hauling and grinding. 

The work of collecting milk through this section is thoroughly or- 
ganized. The milk, shipped in 10-gallon cans, is collected once daily 
by motor truck. On the return trip the truck brings back the empty 
cans, which makes it unnecessary to have two sets of cans. As the 
roads are very good it is not uncommon, in the season of greatest pro- 
duction, for a motor truck and trailer to haul 100 cans. The efficiency 



6 BULLETIN 919, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

of the truck method of hauling milk is shown by the very low cost of 
6.2 cents per 100 pounds of milk in winter and 6,1 cents per 100 
pounds of milk in summer. The use of the motor truck also accounts 
for the small amount of horse labor. 

The cost of keeping a bull includes feed, labor, and other costs 
expressed in dollars. For closer study a table will be found on page 
10 expressing the costs in terms of pounds and hours. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR KEEPING A COW ONE YEAR. 

The greater production per cow, in summer, of 1,399 pounds of 
milk, shown in Table 2, is partly due to a larger percentage of cows 
freshening in the winter and early spring, but more particularly it is 
the direct result of good pastures. The value of this pasture is espe- 
cially noticeable when one observes that in winter the cows required 
946 pounds of grain to produce 3,217 pounds of milk, while in summer 
they required only 241 pounds of grain to produce 4,616 pounds of 
milk. 

Table 2. — Number of cou's, average production, per coio, and requirements for 
keeping a coto during each season and for the entire year, except cost of man- , 
agement, hosed on records of the two years' work. 



Item. 


Winter. 


Summer. 


Entire year 


Number of cows 


1,043.1 
3,, 217 


1, 049. 3 
4,616 


1,046 2 


Average production per cow 


pounds.. 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 


7,833 


Feed: 

Purchased concentrates 

Home-grown grains 


711 
235 


214 
27 


925 

262 


Total concentrates 

Hauling and grinding concentrates 


946 

?0.72 


241 
$0.15 


1,187 

$0 87 




pounds.. 

do 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 




Noncommercial roughage 

Commercial carbohydrate hay 

Legume hay ! 


186 

2,558 

246 


4 
314 
28 


190 

2,872 

2'74 


Total dry roughage 

Silage and" other succulent roughage 

Bedding 

Pasture 


2,990 

4,610 

289 

f $1.70 

\or 0.1 acre. 

60.1 
.29 


346 

1,864 

6 

$21.34 

or 1 acre. 

60.9 
.67 


3,336 

6,474 

295 

$23.04 


Labor: 

Human 

Horse 


hours.. 

do.... 


or 1.1 acres. 

121.0 
1.0 


other costs: 

Building charges 


$4.10 
2.34 

1.22 
3.62 
2.44 


$4.07 
2.33 

1.22 
3.60 
1.94 
.04 
2.82 


$8.17 


Equipment charges and dairy supplies . 


4.67 


Herd charges: Taxes, insurance, veterinary, 
fectants, and cow-testing associations 


medicines, dlsin- 


2.44 


Interest on cow investment 


7.22 


Cost of keeping bull 


4.38 


Motor-truck charge 


.04 


Cash hauhng of milk 


1.98 


4.80 




ws 




Total other costs, except depreciation on co 
Depreciation on cows 


15.70 
2.30 


16.02 
2.29 


31.72 




4.59 








Total other costs 


$18.00 


$18.31 


$36.31 







The one-tenth of an acre pasture charge shown for winter repre- 
sents supplementary pasture or pasture on meadows in spring and 
second-crop meadow and grain stubble in the fall. In case the oats 
are lodged fall pasture furnishes a valuable source of feed. In 



PRODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 7 

spring it is a common practice in this dairy section to turn the cows 
in the meadows for a short time, thereby obtaining a shorter but 
finer hay crop, which is a decided advantage when hay is inclined to 
grow tall and coarse. 

The small quantity of bedding used was due to the fact that the 
winters were so mild that the cows were kept in the barn only during 
January, February, and March, while at least three of the herds 
received practically no bedding. 

The hours of labor expended per cow in summer and in winter did 
not differ materially. The time required in winter for feeding and 
for cleaning stables was used in summer for driving the cows to and 
from pasture; also in summer mote time was necessary for milking 
on account of increased production. 

CREDIT FOR MANURE. 

On the average dairy farm the commercial value of manure de- 
pends upon the use to which it is put. The return in dollars depends 
upon the increase in the crops raised and in the amount received from 
the sale of these crops. These facts may reduce or increase the value 
of manure below or above the market price of the fertilizing constitu- 
ents contained in it. 

The farming land in many parts of western Washington is re- 
claimed swamp land and the soil is unusually fertile. Dairymen 
therefore derived very little benefit from the application of manure 
and did not place a high valuation on it. The credit for the manure, 
however, which was the same for summer and winter, was based on 
the market price of the fertilizing constituents contained in it. 

Tli^ prices per pound of the fertilizing constituents in the manure 
for the first year were as follows : Nitrogen, $0.25 ; commercial phos- 
phoric acid, $0.06 ; and potash, $0,068. The prices during the second 
year were $0,191 for nitrogen, $0,056 for phosphoric acid, and $0,068 
for potash. 

Only that manure which was saved or could have been saved under 
ordinary farm conditions was credited to the cows. In order to de- 
termine the amount of manure saved, a monthly record was kept of 
the time the cows were actually in the stables. This made it possible 
to figure the weight of manure voided in the barns, for, according to 
the best authorities, a 1,000-pound cow will produce 13 tons of ma- 
nure in a year, or 6^ tons for six months. The manure dropped on 
the pasture was not credited to the herds ; if a credit had been given, 
an offset charge against the pasture for fertilizer would have been 
necessary. 

Many of the stables had holes in the gutters to permit the liquid 
to escape ; therefore a deduction was made wherever necessary to cover 
this loss. Also a deduction of 25 per cent in the summer and 30 per 
cent in the winter, or rainy season, was made to cover the loss to the 
manure while in the yard exposed to the weather. 



8 



BULLETIN 919, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



To determine the fertilizing constituents in the manure the feeds 
used throughout the winter were classified so that their average com- 
position could be obtained. This was done by referring to standard 
tables containing the analyses of the various classes of feeds. 

Since a cow in the process of digestion utilizes on the average only 
approximately 25 per cent of the nitrogen, 30 per cent of the phos- 
phorus, and 15 per cent of the potash, it is evident that 75 per cent 
of the nitrogen, TO per cent of the phosphorus, and 85 per cent of the 
potash is available for fertilizers. By knowing the weights of the 
feeds and their average composition it was possible to determine the 
approximate amounts of the three fertilizing elements consumed. 
From these figures deductions were made for that utilized by the 
cows to obtain the total amounts of the fertilizing elements voided. In 
figuring the amount of fertilizing constituents saved the same factors 
were considered that determined the weight of manure credited to 
cows, namely, the time the cattle were out, making the fertilizer 
unreclaimable, the amount of liquid lost through holes in the gut- 
ters, and the loss in leaching while stored in the yards. 

A ton of average manure during the winter was estimated to have 
the following constituents : 

Pounds. 

Nitrogen 9. 9 

Commercial phosphoric acid 4. 2 

Potash 11. 5 

No credit was allowed for bedding, as the large acreage of oats and 
a superabundance of straw from the fertile soil makes the farm price 
of the straw less than the value of the fertilizing constituents in it. 
The farm price of the straw is little more than enough to pay for 
bringing the straw to the barn. It might be hauled directly from 
the stack to the field instead of the barn, thereby distributing the fer- 
tilizing elements on the soil at the same expense. 

Table 3. — Manure and fertilizing constitvents credited to the herds during the 
ttvo winters and the two summers. 





Winter. 


Summer. 


Item. 


1917-18 


1919-20 


Average. 


1917-18 1 


1919 


Average. 


Total manure saved tons . . 

Manure per cow poimcl ;. . 

Manure credited per 100 pounds of milk, 


1,128.2 
4,200.0 


802.3 
3,200.0 


965.2 
3,800.0 

115 


179.1 
600.0 


126.8 
400.0 


153.0 

600.0 

13 
















Winter average. 


Simimer average. 




Nitrogen. 


Phos- 
phoric 
acid. 


Potash. 


Nitrogen. 


Phos- 
phoric 
acid. 


Potash. 


Fertilizing constituents in manure, 


9,474 
18.2 


4,003 
7.7 


11, 134 
21.3 


1,500 
2.9 


634 
1.2 


1,765 


Credit per cow pounds. . 


3.4 



1 The summer of 1917-18 included the months of September and October, 1917, and May, June, July, and 
August, 1918. 



PRODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 



9 



The low credit per cow for manure is due to the small quantity of 
manure saved and to the losses incurred in handling it. Since the 
cost of keeping a bull was charged against the cows under other costs, 
the bull manure was credited to the herds and included in the credit 
of 2.1 tons of manure per cow in 1917-18 and 1.6 tons per cow in 
1919-20. 

CREDIT FOR CALVES. 

The seasonal variations in the production of calves show a small 
increase in the number of calves dropped in winter over the number 
dropped in summer, but this does not imply that winter dairying 
was emphasized. A study of the number of calves dropped per 
month shows that there were more calves born from January to May 
than during any other corresponding period, which indicates a tend- 
ency toward summer dairying. 

Table 4. — Total credit for calves produced, by years and by seasons. 





Credit by years. 


Credit by seasons. 


Item. 


1917-18 


1919-20 


Both winters. 


Both summers. 




514 

$3,399.89 

$6.61 

0.96 of 1 calf. 

$6.38 

0.013 of 1 calf. 


502 

$4,821.11 

$9.60 

0.98 of 1 calf. 

$9.39 

0.012 of 1 calf. 


574 

$4,495.38 

$7.83 

1.1 calves. 

$8.61 

0.017 of 1 calf. 


442 




$3,725.62 


Average value of calves .- 

Calves per cow 

Credit per cow 

Credit per 100 pounds of milk 


$8.43 

0.84 of 1 calf. 

$7.08 

0.009 of 1 calf. 







The average production of 0.96 of one calf per cow for the first 
year and 0.98 of one calf for the second year shows a very high 
average, which ordinarily can not be expected. Their increase in 
value was wholly due to a rise in the market value of calves. 

The greater number of calves were sold for veal when very young. 
Each calf that was raised was given a value by the farmer, who took 
into consideration the individual and its breeding. As grade prices 
were given to the purebred cows, their calves were given a value 
which corresponded to a grade calf of similar quality. This was done 
because in these studies the breeding business was separated from 
the business of producing milk. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR KEEPING A BULL. 

There is a noticeable difference in both feed and labor require- 
ments for keeping a bull in summer and in winter. On 10 farms 
the bulls ran on pasture or Avere tethered out. This accounts for the 
low feed requirements, other than pasture, and for the low labor re- 
quirements for the summer season. 

The small quantity of bedding was due to a combination of reasons. 
In many herds the bulls ran with the cows, and they were kept in 
the stable only at night during January, February, and March. A 
1264&0— 20 2 



10 



BULLETIN 919, U. S. DEPAKTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



number of the bulls received no bedding at all, and in one instance 
where the bull was kept separate his stall was bedded with the refuse 
hay from his manger. 



Table 5.- 



-Requirements for keeping a bull, hy seasons, based on averages 
obtained from the equivalent of SJf.lt bulls. 



Item. 


Winter. 


Summer. 


Entire 
year. 


Feed: 

Purchased concentrates 

Home-grown grain 


pounds.. 

do 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

..do... 


280 
129 


166 
55 


446 

184 


Total concentrates 


409 


221 


630 


Noncommercial roughage 

Commercia 1 carbohydrate hay 

Legiune hay 


339 

3,3C0 

193 


208 
1,790 

77 


547 

5,150 

270 




do.... 

do.... 




Total dry roughage 

Succulent roughage 

Bedding 


3,892 

1,669 

31 

$1.68 

24.0 


2,075 

1,400 

12 

$11.88 

16.4 


5,967 

3,069 

43 


Pasture 


$13. 56 


Human labor 




40.4 








Other costs: 

Interest and insurance on bull investment 


$10.54 
4.06 
6.36 


$10.48 
4.09 
6.28 


$21.02 


Bull's share of buildings 


8.15 


Depreciation i 


12.64 








Tota 1 other costs 


20.96 
10.22 


20.85 
10.10 


41.81 


Credit for outside bull service 


20.32 








Total other cost less outside bull service 


10.74 


10.75 


21.49 







Table 5 shows an annual depreciation of $12.64 per bull per year. 
Most of the bulls were purebred and were purchased when young at 
purebred prices. As they grew older their values increased. This 
appreciation in value helped to decrease the depreciation on old bulls 
sold for beef for less than their purebred value. 

A credit for outside bull service of $20.32 per year was due to 
service fees obtained from four of the bulls in the association, one of 
which was an animal of special merit. However, the large credit 
for outside service for this bull was partly offset by the increased 
charges for interest, insurance, and depreciation. If both the " other 
costs " of keeping the bull and the credit for outside service had been 
stricken from the records, the net " other costs " per year for keeping 
the other bulls would have averaged $31.69. 

FACTORS INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF MILK. 

FEED. 

Concentrates is a term applied to grains and to their manufactured 
by-products which contain a large amount of nutritious substance in 
a relatively small bulk. 

Hoine- grown grains refer to concentrates grown on the farm or in 
the locality where fed. 

Dry roughage includes various hays and other rough feeds, which 
are subdivided into the three following classes : 



PRODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON, H 

Noncommercial dry roughage applies to coarse feeds, such as corn 
stover and velvet-grass hay, for which price quotations are not given 
in the trade papers. Hay or other dry roughage so foul with weeds 
or so damaged in curing as not to be readily salable is also classified 
under this heading. 

Leguminous roughage includes alfalfa, clover, cowpea, soy bean, 
and other commercial legume hays, when pure, or when so slightly 
mixed with grasses as not materially to affect the protein content. 

Commercial carbohydrate roughage refers to all commercial hays 
except those classified as leguminous roughage. 

Succulent roughage consists of mangels, potatoes, silage, and soil- 
ing crops. 

The quantities of the various feeds used were obtained from actual 
weights made by the field agent on his regular monthly visit to each 
farm. 

Purchased concentrates were charged at the prices paid, less the 
value of the sacks in which they were purchased. These sacks were 
readily salable if not desired for use on the farm and were given the 
same value for which they could have been sold. The home-gi-own 
grains were given the farm price plus such extra charges as hauling 
and grinding when necessary. When baling or hauling dry rough- 
age was necessary the price for such was deducted from the market 
value of the feed. If the succulent roughage was salable the farm 
price was used in determining valuations per ton ; however, if it was 
not salable a price which was commensurate with its value as com- 
pared with the value of a marketable product was placed on it. 

PASTURE. 

In western Washington pasture plays a very important part in 
milk production. With cool weather throughout most of the sum- 
mer, plenty of moisture, and a rich soil there is abundant pasture 
until late in the fall. During the pasture season almost 60 per cent 
of the milk for the year was produced and at one-third the yearly 
feed cost. 

The charges against pasture consist of interest, taxes, upkeep, and 
repairs on fences, cutting thistles and weeds, and seeding. 

Interest was figured on the unimproved value of the land, which 
was obtained by deducting from the improved value any increase in 
worth due to the dairy buildings contributary to it. The rate of 
interest allowed varied from 6 to 8 per cent. The rate was deter- 
mined by the per cent the farmer would have to pay if he borrowed 
money to buy the land. 

The amount of the taxes on the whole farm was ascertained from 
the books of the county authorities ; from this the amount incidental 
to pasture was calculated. 



12 



BULLETIN 919, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 



Upkeep and repairs to fences were largely an approximation. 
They were determined by asking the farmers the value and life of 
posts, wire, etc., and the labor required to build and keep the fences 
in repair. From these data the annual cost was computed. 

Cutting thistles and weeds is a necessary operation on most of the 
pastures ; where this was the case the cost for such was included in 
the pasture charge. A seeding charge was allowed where the pasture 
takes a regular place in the crop rotation, for in this way the pasture 
derives some of the benefit from the seeding for meadow. 

The annual pasture rent per cow amounted to 1.1 acres, or $23.04. 

LABOR. 

The average labor rate per hour was obtained by dividing the wages 
per month, plus such extra considerations as board, house rent, milk, 
and fuel, by the total number of hours available for work. 

The hours available for work during the month were determined 
on the monthly visit to each farm. The times work began in the 
morning and when it ceased in the evening were noted, and from the 
period of work was subtracted the time out for meals and rest. The 
hours per day thus obtained were multiplied by the number of work- 
ing days in that month, to which were added the hours of work 
necessary on Sundays. 

Table 6. — Per cent of labor performed and hours per 100 pounds of milk pro- 
duced for each class of help. 





Winder. 


Summer. 


Class of labor. 


Distribution of work per- 
formed. 


Labor 
per 100 
pounds 
of milk. 


Distribution of work per- 
formed. 


Labor 
per 100 
pounds 
of milk. 




1917-18 


1919-20 


Average. 


Average. 


1917-18 


1919 


Average. 


Average. 


Managers 


Per cent. 
27.5 
62.4 


Per cent. 
23.8 
66.1 


Per cent. 
25.6 
64.2 


Hours. 
0.48 
1.20 


Per cent. 
26.7 
60.3 


Per cent. 
27.3 

68.1 


Per cent. 
27.0 
59.2 


Hours. 
0.36 




.78 






Total man labor 
Women 


89.9 
2.5 
7.6 


89.9 
1.0 
9.1 


89.8 
1.8 
8.4 


1.68 
.03 
.16 


87.0 
2.9 
10.1 


85.4 

1.1 

13.5 


86.2 
2.0 
11.8 


1.14 

.03 


Boys 


.16 






To^al 


100.0 


100.0 


100.0 


1.87 


100.0 


100.0 


100.0 


1.33 







Table 6 shows that 64.2 per cent of the work during the two win- 
ters and 59.2 per cent of the work during the two summers was per- 
formed by hired men. It is a practice in that part of the country, 
especially with the larger dairies, to hire a man and put him in 
charge of the dairy. The men who follow this line of work are for 
the most part of Scandinavian or Swiss descent. They become very 
proficient and make excellent dairymen. They follow regular sched- 
ules for doing their work and develop a wonderful capacity for 



PEODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 



13 



milking. During the first year six dairies were handled by these pro- 
fessional milkers, and each man had an average of 32.8 cows in his 
" string " which he fed and milked alone. During the second year 
the average " string " consisted of 28.8 cows. 

In two of these dairies the milkers were accustomed to be at the 
barn and ready to start their work at 2 o'clock in the morning. At 
other farms the time for star<:ing work ranged from 2.30 to 4 o'clock. 

The number of cows which a man can care for depends largely 
upon the quantity of milk they are producing, but usually it ranges 
between 18 and 30. A specific instance is known where one man 
milked 42 cows twice daily for a month. The average daily pro- 
duction for a " string " of cows varies from 6 to 10 10-gallon cans 
in winter and from 10 to 14 10-gallon cans in summer. On one farm 
one man, for more than a week, milked 22 10-gallon cans full a day. 

Milking usually starts between 2 and 4 o'clock in the morning 
and the same time in the afternoon. Any work which can be done 
at odd times, such as throwing down feed and mixing grain, is done 
between noon and milking time in the afternoon. Small dairies, 
which do not require all of one man's time, are quite often cared for 
by the owner and his family. 

Only a small percentage of the work was performed by women 
and boys, as shown in Table 6. The women did very little work 
around the barn, confining their efforts to washing utensils, which 
was done in the house. 



OTHER COSTS. 



Other costs include all charges on buildings, equipment, and cattle, 
such as interest, depreciation, upkeep, and repairs. 

Table 7. — Per cent relationship between other costs and capital invested. 



Hem. 


Buildings. 


Equipment. 


Cattle. 


Total. 




854,647.14 


$17,223.89 


S108,679.00 


$180,550.03 








Per cenL 
7.0 
4.5 
1.4 

a:! 


Per cent. 
7.4 
19.4 


Per cent. 
7.0 
4.4 

} •» 


Per cent. 


















.9 

.7 


















Total 


16.2 


28.4 


12.3 


15.4 







1 Per cent of capital invested in the various costs. 
BUILDINGS. 



At the beginning of the work the buildings and silos were inven- 
toried at their replacement value in normal times. Interest was 
charged on this value at the rate of 7 per cent. After the first inven- 
tory the subsequent values were determined by deducting from the 



14 BULLETIN 919, U. S. DEPAKTMENT OF AGKICULTURE. 

value at the beginning of the year the amount of depreciation during 
that year. The depreciation per year was based upon the remaining 
years of usefulness of the buildings. The average depreciation for 
the two years shows an annual depreciation of 4.5 per cent. 

There were no direct taxes on buildings ; but, since pasture figures 
were based on the raw or unimproved value of the land, it was neces- 
sary that the dairy should be charged with the taxes due to the im- 
provements caused by the dairy buildings. 

Insurance charges were taken from the receipts of the insurance 
companies. 

A monthly account was kept of the money spent for such items as 
whitewashing, repairs on doors, etc.; but, to determine the amount 
necessary for painting, roofing, and such expenses which come less 
frequently, it was necessary to make an estimate on each dairyman's 
buildings of the amounts required yearly for such purposes. The 
total cost of upkeep and repairs amounted to 3.1 per cent of the 
capital value of the buildings. 

EQUIPMENT. 

The interest charge on equipment was 7.4 per cent of the inventory 
value of the equipment. Tools and equipment around a dairy barn 
are usually worn out quite rapidly, which explains the large annual 
depreciation of 19.4 per cent. 

The charge for upkeep and repairs was 0.9 per cent and for 
milking-machine repairs O.T per cent. Supplies, such as gasoline, 
kerosene, washing powder, etc., amounted to 99 cents per cow per 
year. 

New equipment purchased during the year was added to the first 
inventory before subtracting the second inventory. 

CATTLE. 

Milk produced by a purebred cow has no greater value than that 
produced by a grade cow. Raising purebred cattle is a separate busi- 
ness involving a greater investment and resulting in larger credits 
for calves. In this investigation the purebred cows were given values 
of grade cows of corresponding production and purebred calves were 
likewise given credits as grade calves from dams of corresponding 
production. 

At the beginning and end of the year each cow was given an in- 
ventory value. The first value was based on the price at which the 
owner thought he could replace her. In order to avoid the influence 
of market conditions her subsequent value remained the same unless 
her owner thought that she had become a better or poorer cow. 

Interest was figured at the rate of 7 per cent upon the investment at 
the beginning of the year. 



PRODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 



15 



To obtain the depreciation on cattle tlie value of every cow that 
entered the herd during the year was added to the herd inventory at 
the beginning of the year; from this result was subtracted the total 
value of the cows at the end of the year plus the prices received for 
cows sold during that year. 

A depreciation of 4.4 per cent of the capital value of the cattle is 
shown. This figure would have been considerably higher had it not 
been for the large number of cows sold the last year for dairy pur- 
poses for which the dairymen received a very good price. 

Taxes chargeable to the dairy were taken from the county auditor's 
tax books, and insurance was taken from insurance receipts. 

Such items as veterinary fees, medicines, disinfectants, and cow- 
testing-association dues amounted to $1.45 per cow per year. 

PER CENT COMPARISON OF FACTORS INVOLVED IN MILK 

PRODUCTION. 

How did the cost of producing milk in winter compare with the 
cost in summer? What items were cniefly responsible for the wide 
variation in the seasons? These questions are answered in the fol- 
lowing" table : 



Table 8.- 



-Per cent of the total costs represented hy feed, labor, and other costs, 
hy seasons. 



Item. 



Feed and bedding cost 

Pasture '. 

Feed, bedding, and pasture cost 

Labor cost 

Otiier costs, except herd inventory variation 

Total cost, except herd inventory variation 
Depreciation on herd . .'. .' — 

To^al cost of production 



Winder. 



Per cent. 

36.6 

.9 



37.5 
11.4 

8.7 



57.6 
1.2 



Summer. 



Per cent. 
7.3 
11.6 



IS. 9 
12.1 
8.9 



39.9 
1.3 



41.2 



Entire 
year. 



Per cent. 
43.9 
12.5 



56.4 
23.5 
17.6 



97.5 
2.5 



100.0 



The first two columns show that the wide variation between the 
winter and the summer costs was due largely to the difference in the 
cost of feed and pasture. The combined feed, bedding, and pasture 
cost in winter was 37.5 per cent of the yearly costs, while the cost of 
these items in summer was 18.9 per cent. The fact that the labor 
cost in winter was 11.4 per cent and in summer 12.1 per cent shows 
there was a difference of only 0.7 per cent in this item for the two 
seasons. 

The high prices received for cows sold during the year reduced the 
depreciation charge, and this item is reported separately, so its effect 
on the total cost can be seen. 

The cost of producing milk ill winter was 58.8 per cent of the yearly 
cost, while the summer cost was 41.2 per cent of it. 



16 



BULLETIN 919, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



AVERAGE COMPARED WITH "BULK-LINE" COSTS. 

During the last few years attempts have been made to use the aver- 
age cost of production as a basis for determining the selling price of 
milk. Where the average cost basis is recommended it is evident 
that practically all those producers whose costs are above the average 
will find the profits reduced if they are so fortunate as not to suffer 
an actual loss. This will tend to discourage production and reduce 
the available supply. 

Infusing the bulk-line method for determining a necessary price, 
only a certain number of the extremely high-cost producers may have 
costs above this price. The use of this method is illustrated in 
Table 9. 

Table 9. — Net cost, quantity, and per cent of milk produced by each herd, two 
tvinters and two summers. 



Winter 1917-18. 


Winter 1919-20. 




Milk produced. 




Milk produced. 


Cost 
per 100 








Cost 
per 100 




















pounds. 


Quan- 


Per cent 


Cumular 


pounds. 


Quan- 


Per cent 


Cumula- 




tity. 


of total. 


live. 




tity. 


of total. 


tive. 




Pounds. 


Per cent. 


Per cent. 




Pounds. 


Per cent. 


Per cent. 


$1.91 


67,036 


4.2 


4.2 


$2.50 


156,032 


8.8 


8.8 


2.26 


113,716 


7.2 


11.4 


2.80 


113,302 


6.4 


15.2 


2.39 


88,736 


5.6 


17.0 


2.88 


144,577 


8.2 


23.4 


2.43 


60, 595 


3.8 


20.8 


2.96 


127,348 


7.2 


30.6 


2.56 


144,362 


9.1 


29.8 


3.10 


66,898 


3.8 


34.4 


2.63 


66,956 


4.2 


34.1 


3.11 


90,257 


5.1 


39.5 


2.69 


195,756 


12.3 


46.4 


3.16 


213, 169 


12.1 


51.6 


2.80 


99,931 


6.3 


52.7 


3.20 


92,420 


5.2 


56.8 


2.84 
2.86 


82,857 
131,097 


5.2 

8.2 


57.9 
66.1 


13.25 
3.30 








'262," 567"" 


""ii'.h" 


"■""68.'2"" 


2.89 


113, 785 


7.1 


73.3 


3.31 


56,349 


3.2 


71.4 


12.91 
3.02 








3.48 
3.50 


54,677 
62,631 


3.1 
3.6 


74.5 

78.1 


■'48,' 222"" 


3.'6'" 


'"■■76.'3" 


3.29 


91,896 


5.8 


82.1 


3. GO 


100, 453 


5.7 


83.8 


3.47 


112,754 


7.1 


89.2 


3.83 


39,680 


2.2 


86.0 


3.59 


80,523 


5.1 


94.2 


3.95 


113,973 


6.4 


92.5 


3.82 


61,283 


3.9 


98.1 


4.01 


79, .539 


4.5 


97.0 


4.85 


30,126 


1.9 


100.0 


4.61 


53, 581 


3.0 


100.0 


Summer 1917-18. 


Summer 1919. 


$1.06 


174,306 


7.5 


7.5 


$1.14 


100,428 


4.0 


4.0 


1.24 


83,089 


3.6 


11.0 


1.18 


210,813 


8.4 


12.4 


1.25 


85,339 


3.7 


14.7 


1.30 


123,893 


4.9 


17.4 


1.31 


92,0.50 


3.9 


18.6 


1.33 


145,812 


5.8 


23.2 


1.33 


160, 589 


6.9 


2.5.5 


3.36 


89, 853 


3.6 


26.7 


1.34 


166,339 


7.1 


32.6 


1.39 


177,018 


7.1 


33.8 


1.35 


132, 277 


5.7 


38.3 


1.42 


211,960 


8.4 


42.2 


1.38 


167, 584 


7.2 


45.5 


1.60 


89,982 


3.6 


45.8 


1.39 
1.40 


112,097 
213,498 


4.8 
9.1 


50.3 
59.4 


1 1.60 
1.62 








'369,'7i6"' 


""\2.Z" 


■■■■58.'2"' 


11.50 
1.53 








1.64 
1.70 


98, 174 
102, 351 


3.9 
4.1 


62.1 
66.2 


"'63,' 466"' 


2.'7 " 


' "62.'i " 


1.57 


462, 128 


19.8 


81.9 


1.74 


89,637 


3.6 


69.8 


1.65 


I12,ai6 


4.8 


86.7 


1.77 


167, 586 


6.7 


76.4 


1.93 


136,413 


5.8 


92.6 


1.79 


92,741 


3.7 


80.1 


1.95 


125,893 


6.4 


98.0 


1.87 


132, 253 


5.3 


85.4 


3.48 


47,846 


2.0 


100.0 


2.03 


98, 741 


3.9 


89.3 










2.12 


91,808 


3.7 


93.0 










2.32 


175, 642 


7.0 


100.0 



'■ Average. 



PRODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 



17 



In Table 9, for the winter 1917-18, it will be noted that only 73.3 
per cent of the milk was produced at $2.89 or less per 100 pounds, 
which is the first cost below the average cost of $2.91. In many sec- 
tions this volume of milk would be an inadequate supply. On the 
other hand, 94.2 per cent of the milk was produced at $3.59 or less 
per 100 pounds. In order to include 98.1 per cent of the volume of 
milk, the cost advances to $3.82 per hundred, thus increasing the cost 
23 cents per 100 pounds and adding only 3.9 per cent of the volume. 

If the price of the milk were placed at $3.47 per 100 pounds, a profit 
ranging from 18 cents ($3.47 minus $3.29) to $1.56 ($3.47 minus 
$1.91) per 100 pounds would tend to increase the volume of milk 
produced by the more efficient dairymen. Similar deductions may 
be made from the other portions of the table. 

MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION OF FACTORS IN MILK PRODUCTION. 

A study of Table 10 shows that the per cent of milk produced each 
season did not vary greatly from year to year; however, there is a 
noticeable increase for both years in summer production over winter 
production. During the first year there was 19 per cent more milk 
produced in summer than in winter, and in the second year 17.4 per 
cent more was produced. The larger flow of milk in summer can be 
attributed to better pasture more than to any other cause. 

With the exception of the month of November in the first year the 
feed, pasture, and bedding cost for the winter in both years was de- 
cidedly higher than in the summer. The same is true of feed and 
bedding cost minus the manure credit. 

A study of the results of the two years' work shows that the feed 
costs for the first and second summers were 33.5 per cent and 33.6 
per cent, respectively, of the total yearly feed costs. Likewise it is 
found that the summer production was 59.5 per cent and 58.7 per 
cent of the total production for the corresponding years. 

Tabue 10. — Monthly distribution of milk pHces, milk sold and used, feed cost, 

and labor required. 

YEAR 1917-1918. 





Income 
per 100 
pounds 
of milk-. 


Income 
from 
milk 
sold 
and 
used. 


Milk 
sold 
and 
used. 


Feed 
pasture, 

and 
bedding 

cost. 


Feed, 
pastiu-e, 

and 
bedding 
cost 
minus 
manure 
credit. 


Human labor. 


Horse labor. 


Month and season. 


Per 100 
pounds 
of milk. 


Per 

cow. 


Per 100 
pounds 
of milk. 


Per 
cow. 




$2.95 
3.01 
3.02 
3.01 
2.81 
2.52 


Per cent. 
7.4 
7.3 
7.0 
6.7 
7.8 
8.3 


Per cent. 
6.5 
6.3 
6.0 
5.8 
7.3 
8.6 


Per cent. 
7.0 
11.3 
12.1 
11.6 
12.8 
11.7 


Per cent. 
5.7 
10.0 
10.8 
10.3 
11.4 
10.4 


Hours. 
2.0 
2.2 
2.2 
2.2 
1.9 
1.5 


Hours. 

9.2 
10.0 

9.8 

9.2 
10.2 

9.4 


Hours. 
0.002 
.008 
.011 
.014 
.011 
.005 


Hours. 
0.01 




.04 


January 


.05 




.06 


March 


.06 


AprU 


.03 


Winter 


2.86 


44.5 


40.5 


66.5 


58.6 


2.0 


9.6 


.008 


.04 



18 



BULLETIN 919, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Table 10. — Monthly distribution of milk prices, milk sold and used, feed cost, 
and lalior reQiiired— Continued. 

YEAR 191/-1918. 





Income 
per 100 
pounds 
of milk. 


Income 
from 
milk 
sold 
and 
used. 


Milk 
sold 
and 
used. 


Feed, 
pasture, 

and 
bedding 

cost. 


Feed, 
pasture, 

and 
bedding 
cost 
minus 
manure 
credit. 


Human labor. 


Horse labor. 


Month and season. 


Per 100 
pounds 
of milk. 


Per 
cow. 


Per 100 
pounds 
of milk. 


Per 
cow. 




$2.21 
2.09 
2.28 
2.78 
2.66 
2.81 


Per cent. 
10.0 
9.4 
9.1 
9.4 
9.1 
8.5 


Per cent. 
11.8 
11.8 
10.4 

8.8 
8.9 
7.8 


Per cent. 
7.5 
4.7 
5.2 
5.3 
4.8 
6.0 


Per cent. 
7.3 
4.5 
5.0 
5.1 
4.6 
5.8 


Hours. 
1.2 
1.2 
1.3 
1.4 
1.4 
1.6 


Hours. 
10.6 
10.3 
10.2 
9.8 
9.1 
9.1 


Hours. 
0.007 
.009 
.012 
.005 
.006 
.033 


Hours. 
0.06 


June... . 


.08 


July 


.10 


August 


.03 


September 


.04 


October 


.19 






Summer 


2.43 


55.5 


69.5 


33.5 


32.3 


1.3 


9.8 


.011 


.08 


Year 


2.61 inn 1 100. n 


100.0 9n.9 


1.6 


9.7 


.010 


.06 


















YEAR 1919-1920. 



November 

December 

January 

February 

March 

April 

Winter . . 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September 

October 

Summer. 

Year 



3.19 
3.28 
3.65 
3.33 
2.82 
2.47 



7.0 
7.4 
8.3 
7.0 
7.3 
7.5 



6.3 
6.5 
6.5 
6.0 
7.4 
8.6 



41.3 



2.35 


9.3 


2.43 


9.6 


2.62 


9.9 


2.94 


9.7 


3.04 


8.8 


3.12 


8.2 



11.4 
11.3 
10.8 
9.4 
8.3 
7.5 



58.7 



10.6 
11.9 
12.0 
11.2 
11.9 



5.1 
5.1 
4.6 
5.1 
5.7 
8.0 



11.2 
11.4 
10.5 
11.2 

8.1 



62.3 



5.0 
5.0 
4.5 
5.0 
5.6 
7.9 



1.9 


9.7 


2.0 


11.1 


2.0 


10.8 


1.9 


9.5 


1.7 


11.0 


1.4 


10.6 


1.8 


10.4 



.009 
.004 
.015 
.011 
.012 
.009 



1.1 
1.2 
1.3 
1.4 
1.4 
1.6 



11.1 
11.3 
11.7 
10.4 
9.0 
9.5 



10.5 



.003 
.045 
.007 
.022 
.019 
.003 



.017 



.014 



The number of hours required to care for a cow does not differ 
materially in summer and winter, but the number of hours required 
to produce 100 pounds of milk shows a marked increase from Novem- 
ber to March, inclusive. This season corresponds quite closely to 
the months of intensive winter feeding, when the cows are kept in the 
barns or yards during the nights ; it also corresponds to the months 
in which the smallest volume of milk is produced, and this fact exerts 
a great influence over the amount of labor required for producing 100 
pounds of milk. This is more fully substantiated by the fact that 
during the months of May, June, and July we find the lowest time 
requirements for producing 100 pounds of milk because of the higher 
percentage of milk produced per month. 

The small amount of horse labor was due to the use of motor trucks 
for collecting the milk and hauling it to market. 

During the winter horses were used at some farms to haul the milk 
from the milk house to the road. In summer they were used for driv- 
ing cows to and from the pasture; however, during July, August, 
and September, when the horses are hitched to the harvest wagon, 



PRODUCING MILK IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. 19 

they were quite often used to haul milk or to get cans, because this 

method requires less effort than to carry or cart them. The high 

figure of 0.43 of an hour per cow for June, 1919, is chiefly due to one 

man who used a large amount of time cutting and hauling soiling 

crops. 

SUMMARY. 

A study of the results presented in this bulletin shows that 56.4 
per cent of the total cost of producing milk was due to feed and 
bedding, 23.5 per cent to labor, 17.6 per cent to other costs, and 
2.5 per cent to depreciation (see Table 8). 

The requirements for producing 100 pounds of milk during the 
winter were : Concentrates, 29.4 pounds ; hauling and grinding con- 
centrates, $0,022; dry roughage, 92.9 pounds; succulent roughage, 
143.3 pounds ; bedding, 9 pounds ; human labor, 1.9 hours ; horse labor, 
0.01 of an hour; other costs, $0,576 (see Table 1). Credits for 
winter production other than milk: Manure, 115 pounds; calves, 
0.017 (see Tables 3 and 4). Requirements for producing 100 pounds 
of milk during the summer were : Concentrates, 5.2 pounds ; hauling 
and grinding concentrates, $0.003 ; dry roughage, 7.5 pounds ; succu- 
lent roughage, 40.4 pounds; pasture, 0.025 of an acre; bedding, 0.1 of 
one pound; human labor, 1.3 hours; horse labor, 0.015 of an hour; 
other costs, $0,406. Credits for summer production other than milk : 
Manure, 13 pounds ; calves, 0.009. 

The following items were provided for keeping the average cow 
one year : Concentrates, 1,187 pounds ; hauling and grinding concen- 
trates, $0.87 ; dry roughage, 3,336 pounds ; succulent roughage, 6,474 
pounds; pasture, $23.04 or 1.1 acres; bedding, 295 pounds; human 
labor, 121 hours; horse labor, 1 hour; other costs, $36.31 (see Table 
2) . Credits other than milk : Manure, 2.2 tons ; calves, 0.97. 

To keep a bull one year required 630 pounds of grain, 5,967 pounds 
of dry roughage, 3,069 pounds of succulent roughage, 43 pounds of 
bedding, and 40.4 hours of human labor. In addition, $13.56 was 
expended for pasture and $21.49 for other costs after a credit of 
$20.32 had been deducted for outside bull service. 

During the winter men performed 89.8 per cent of the work and 
86.2 per cent during the summer. The remaining labor was per- 
formed by women and boys (see Table 6). 

Interest, depreciation, taxes, and similar charges against buildings, 
equipment, and cattle amounted to 15.4 per cent of the, capital in- 
vested in them (see Table 7). 

In the two years 44.5 per cent of each year's income from milk was 
obtained during the winter. The net feed and bedding cost for the 
first winter was 58.6 per cent of the net yearly feed and bedding cost, 
but during the second year the winter net feed and bedding cost was 
increased to 62.3 per cent (see Table 10). 



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